Packaging machine



July 24, 1962 Filed Jan. 11; 1960 M.B.RASMUSSON `PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 24, 1962 B. AsMussoN PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1l, 1960 Rm N@ M W. NQ NK E i o NWO l 3 vf "n N Q O l on 1 1 lllll s W S r@ .M I l1 .I Il: L rmllwwll ii lll H1 ,..n m@ w m o o o o o o o o Q M NQ wm W S July 24, 1962 M. B. RASMUSSON 3,045,408

PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 1l, 1960 July 24, 1962 M. B. RAsMussoN 3,045,408

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. l1, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J ooooQgO 0o`o ooOo-ooo ooo 47 O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 1 f@ I I l l f/ if I 6 7 W /55 INVENToR. F MAeL//v @5m/55am @aff `Iuly 24, 1962 M. B. RAsMUssoN PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. ll. 1960 ,4free/vini United States Patent C 3,045,408 PACKAGING MACHINE Marlin B. Rasmussen, 6601 Elvas Ave., Sacramento, Calif.

Filed `Ian. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 1,627 3 Claims. (Cl. 53-376) My invention relates to devices for assisting in enclosing vendible commodities in packages and is particularly concerned with a machine utilized particularly in connection with the packaging for -distribution of frozen confections on a stick. These confections are usually put into bags immediately upon manufacture, each bag enclosing one confection and its stick, and a set number of confections, such as six, are packaged together in'two layers within a cardboard carton. The carton itself is provided with a bottom, two side walls, leading and trailing flaps on the side walls, a front wall, a front flap on the front wall and is provided with a rear wall and a cover or top havv v ator can readily till a partially erected carton and can dispatch it for closing and sealing in my new packaging machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which will automatically close a filled carton and seal the carton with the contents therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which is readily controlled by the same operator who puts the commodities into the open pack-age.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which starts and stops in harmony with the packaging operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which will effectively close a partially erected carton and seal it with the contents intact.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine which can be adjusted for variations p in successive packages.

, ing machine and to the machine for furnishing the partially closed cartons, the figure also disclosing a partially erected carton of the sort being handled.

FIGURE 1B is, in effect, a continuation and a partial overlap of the structure shown in FIGURE 1A and disclosing in plan the remaining portion of the packaging machine, also indicating in isometric views certain successive stages of closure of the carton. n

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 1B, the view being taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1B and being shown to an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section on the scale of FIGURE 2, the plane of section being taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1B.

FIGUREy 4 is a cross-section similar to FIGURE 3 but taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1B.

ICC

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, the plane of section being taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 1B.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section similar to FIGURE 3, the plane of section being taken along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 1B.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through the structure shown in FIGURE 1B, the plane of section being indicated by the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1B.

FIGURE 8 is a detail of part of the adhesive mechanism, the view being for the most part a cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 8 8 of FIGURE 5 FIGURE 9 is substantially an end view of the packagr ing mechanism, the plane of the -View being indicated by the line 9 9 of FIGURE 1B.

FIGURE l0 is a side elevation of the terminal portion of the packaging machine. v

FIGURE ll is a plan of part of a printing mechanis with portions of the surrounding structure broken away.

While the packaging machine pursuant to the invention can be embodied in a number of dierent forms, depending upon the particular use to which it is to be put, it has successfully been incorporated in the form shown herein for use in packaging frozen confections on sticks, each of such confections together with its stick being discharged for packaging just after it has been enclosed in a bag in abagging machine. As disclosed in FIGURE 1A, the discharge platform 6 of the forming or bagging machine is a horizontal table onto which the `confections '7 are simultaneously deposited in groups of The bagged confections on the table 6 are to be" packed in a carton of the sort shown in FIGURE 1A and which is partially made up or erected in a machine 8 which carries a supply 9 of carton blanks, Blanks of this sort `are shown in my copending application entitled Carton Blank, Serial No. 826,521, tiled July 13, 1959. The blanks 9 are formed to include a bottom 1I, sides I2 and 13, a front I4, a back 1S and a top 16. There are as well a leading flap I7, a trailing ap I8, a front flap 19 and a top flap 21. The blanks 9 are fed by an apprepriate mechanism through a carton forming unit 23 which is a standard commercial device and need not be described herein.

The effect of the device 23 is to transform the blanks 9 into partially erected boxes substantially as shown in FIGURE 1A and to discharge such boxes onto a frame 24 :carrying `a conveyor belt 26 transporting the partially erected cartons from the machine 23 in the direction of the arrow 27 and lining such cartons up in succession to the right-hand of an operator standing immediately opposite the table 6 at a station 31 immediately alongside the frame 32 of my packaging machine. The frame 32 is of the customary sort made up of structural shapes and in its portion immediately adjacent the conveyor 26 and the table 6 is provided with a plurality of roller supports 33 substantially at the plane of the conveyor `belt 26 and slightly below the plane of the table 6.

In the usual manner of operation, a carton in the condition shown in FIGURE 1A discharges from the conveyor belt 26 onto the rollers 33 with suicient momentum to come to rest approximately in a central position opposite the station 31 and evenly supported by the rollers 33. It will be noted that the open topi or cover of the carton is upright and is closest to the operator. The Operator at the station 31 reaches over Ithe empty carton and with hand movements transfers the confections 7, three at a When the hand filling of the carton has been accomplished by the operator at the station 31, the filled but still open carton is displaced by hand to the left over additional ones of the rollers 33 to a position substantially as illustrated in FIGURE 7. In this position, the carton is partially sustained on a carton support 36 preferably including a substantially horizontal plate of stainless steel overlying the side members 37 and 38 of the framework 32. The carton support 36 extends for almost the entire length of the frame 32 and in a convenient transverse location has a depressed longitudinal trough 39 within which the upper run 41 of a conveyor 42 operates.

The conveyor is trained around a Iforward sprocket 43 mounted on a shaft 44 spanning the framework 32 and returns around a rearward sprocket 45 on a. shaft 46 (FIG. l) to provide a lower run 47. The conveyor is driven by a drive chain 48 (FIG. 7) from any suitable source of power such as an electric motor (not shown). At appropriate intervals, the chain 48 is provided with pushers 51 including plates upstanding from the chain 48 and firmly anchored thereon. The chain is contained within the channel 39 and itself remains below the plane of the support 36 or substantially so but the pushers 51 tare of considerable transverse extent and have supporting feet 50 sliding on the support 36.

Pursuant to the invention, the chain conveyor 42 is operated under the control of the operator at the station 31. As shown in FIGURE 7, there is provided on the frame 32 a longitudinally adjustable projecting actuator 52 (FIG. 3) extending through an elongated slot 53 in a transversely adjustable side plate 54 forming part of the framework 32. The projection 52 is effective when depressed to close a switch 56 mounted on the framework and controlling the circuit for the electric motor driving the chain 48 and the conveyor 42.

Thus, the operator at the station 31 moves the filled carton to the left in FIGURE 1A sufficiently so that the carton rides along the support 36 and over the upper run 41 of the conveyor 42 until the leading portion of the carton actuates or displaces the projection 52 to close the switch 56 and energize the electric motor. The previously stationary upper run of the conveyor then advances to the left in FIGURE 1B and to the right in FIGURE 7 and the next approaching pusher 51 engages the trailing edge of the filled carton. Thereafter, the upper run of the conveyor and the carton advance together. As the carton advances, it rides over the projection 52 which springs out again behind the carton but the switch 56 remains closed and the conveyor advance continues. The carton thus, at its initial stage on the conveyor, actuates the energizing switch 56 and starts the machinery which moves the carton along to subsequent stations.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4 as well as in FIGURE 1B, there is provided on the frame 32 at a second station a horizontal plate 61 which is fastened to the frame but at only one side by means of fasteners 62. At the other side, the plate 61 is slightly spaced from the upright wall S4 of the framework. The plate 61 is parallel to the carton support plate 36 and is spaced above the plate 36 a distance slightly greater than the height of the carton walls. The plate 61 extends nearly to the first station and likewise extends longitudinally of the frame through several other stations. The plate 61 is not only slightly spaced from the wall 54 to pass the upright carton top but on the opposite side of the frame is upwardly contoured to provide a channel 63 so that the still upright front flap 19 of the carton can be accommodated in an upright position.

Transversely across its leading edge, the top plate 61 is upturned to provide a leading abutment 64 directly in the path of the substantially upright leading flapy 17 of the carton. As soon as the pusher 51 engages the carton and advances it, the leading flap 17 comes into contact with the upturned leading edge 64 of the plate 61 so that as the carton passes for the most part beneath such plate, the leading iiap 17 is downturned to ride under the remaining portion of the plate 61 but the carton cover and the front ap are still upright as is the trailing flap 18.

Means are provided for folding over the trailing ap 18. As particularly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the shaft 44 of the conveyor 42 is extended to carry a sprocket 66 `fixed thereon. The sprocket 66 through a chain 67 drives a sprocket 68 integral with a cam 69 rotatable on a stub shaft 71 extending from the frame 32 on the side opposite the station 31. The cam 69 is generally circular but for a portion of its periphery has a depression 72. Cooperating with the cam periphery is a roller 73 at the lower end of a follower 74 guided in a block 76 on the frame 32. A coil spring 77 is interposed between a shoulder on the follower 74 and a stationary strap 78 projecting from a superstructure 79 on the frame 32 so that the follower 74 partakes of the motion impelled by the cam 69.

At the upper end of the follower 74 there is provided a short rack 80 meshing with a pinion 81. A shaft 82 on which the pinion 81 is fastened is journalled .in the superstructure 79 and extends over the plate 61 for substantially the entire width thereof. Secured to the extended portion of the shaft 82 is a tucker plate 83. This plate has a portion radial to the shaft 82 and a bent portion 84 which is approximately concentric with the shaft 82 and in addition terminates in a pair of end fingers 86 and 87 as well as a central tongue 88 (FIGS. 3 and 7).

The timing of the cam 69 is such that shortly after the carton has been advanced by the pusher S1 far enough so that the leading flap 17 is bent into closed position and rides under the leading edge 64 of the plate 61, the plate 83 is rotated by the spring 77 from the full line position into the dotted `line position shown in FIGURE 7. The plate 83 moves fast enough to catch up with the advancing carton so lthat the fingers 86 and 87 engage behind the trailing flap 18 of the carton and bend over that ap progressively and forwardly into a horizontal position. This occurs soon enough so that the flap is bent over and is held horizontally just prior to encountering the leading edge 64 of the plate 61.

The advancing movement of the tucker plate is then arrested since the tongue 88 abuts the leading edge 64 and holds the fingers 86 and 87 in position so that they are, in effect, an inclined continuation of the plate 61, thus permitting the trailing panel 18, after it has been folded over, easily to cam under the arrested fingers 86 and 87 and to travel beneath the plate 61. As soon as this has been accomplished, the further rotation of the cam 69 lifts the follower 74 and restores the tucker plate 83 to its initial position ready for a subsequent operation on a successive package. Thus, when the carton is fully engaged beneath the leading portion of the plate 61, both the leading flap 17 and the trailing ap 18 are folded over onto the packed commodity whereas the front panel and the cover 16 are still substantially upright.

As the now partially closed carton continues to be advanced by the pusher 51, the front flap 19, previously disposed freely in the channel 63 (FIG. 4), encounters a folding plate 91 on the frame 32. The folding plate gradually changes from a vertical location continuing the channel 63 to a horizontal position overlying a portion of the plate 61. Thus, as the carton advances, the front ap 19 encountering the folding plate 91 is gradually cammed or rolled over and eventually lies just above the plate 61 and in abutment with an edge thereof. 'Ihis trailing portion of the plate is cantilevered from the remaining, leading portion thereof and is not transversely at-tached to the framework so that thereis adequate roo-rn and freedom for the plate 91 to eifectuate the folding operation. By the time the carton leaves the ltrailing portion of the plate 61, the front panel 19 has been completely folded over.

In a somewhat similar fashion, there is provided a means for yfolding the cover 16 from a substantially vertical into a substantially horizontal position overlying and in contact with the plate '6-1. As particularly shown in FIGURES IB, 3 and 4, the frame 32 at an appropriate station is provided with a folding bar 96. This is a bar round in cross-section having one end 97 securely anchored in the framework and having its other end bent over and secured to the framework at a point 98 on the same side thereof. Between its anchored ends, the bar is contoured so that its leading portion is substantially as high as the upwardly extending cover and is disposed to one side of the advancing carton. The bar continues inwardly of the `framework and downwardly as it approaches the plate 61 and extends very nearly across the full width of the plate and then continues longitudinally of the framework at a very slight elevation above the plate 61.

As the carton advances from its initial station and is partly folded and at about the -time the front panel 19 is beginning to -be cammed and Ifolded by the plate 91, the

Ileading edge of the top 16 encounters the inwardly and downwardly directed portion of the folding bar 96 and is thus engaged and cannned and folded from its initial, substantially vertical position into a final, substantially horizontal position. The relationship of the height of the longitudinal portion 99 of the bar just above the trailing portion of the folding plate 91 is such that as the carton is advanced the cover is folded down-over the plate 91 and so overlies the folded front ap. As the top is folded down, it carries with it the top llap 21 so that the top ap is also ldisposed in a horizontally extending posi-,

tion projecting beyond the side of the framework 32.

To assist in holding the horizontally folded top of the carton, there project from the Aframework 32 a number of spindles 101, each of which serves as a mounting for one or more rollers 102 at a height to engage against the folded cover of the carton and to bear against and guide the carton cover in its horizontal position of advance.

Since it is desired Iadhesively to secure the carton in its folded and closed position, means are provided, in the event the carton blankdoes notalready carry sufficient adhesive, to apply an adhesive material thereto. Particularly illustrated in FIGURES 1B, 2, 5 and 8 is an .adhesive yapplying mechanism. As particularly shown in FIGURE 1B, the shaft 44 is extended to drive a chain 106 which rotates a cross-shaft 107 when the conveyor 42 operates.' A pulley 108 on the shaft 107 is connected by a 4belt 109 to rotate an applicator shaft 111 included in the adhesive mechanism.

The mechanism itself and the journals for the shaft 111 are carried in a separate frame 112 secured detachably to the frame 32 by thumb screws 113 so that the adhesive mechanism can be removed, if desired, simply by removing the thumb screws 113 and unshipping the belt 109. On the shaft 111 is mounted an adhesive pickup and applicator wheel 114. This wheel preferably hasa rubberlike, interrupted applicator band 116 thereon.y The interrupted surface makes a superior pickup Iand application of the adhesive.

A trough 117 supported on the frame 112 carries a pool of liquid adhesive. This is replenished from time to time from `a reservoir 118 mounted on the detachable frame 112. In the reservoir there is provided a metering valve 119 controllable by a thumb wheel 121 for releasing adhesive at the desired rate. This adhesive liquid travels through a guide tube 122. and falls into the trough 117. The band 116 of the 'applicator wheel is transversely somewhat rounded, .as shown in FIGURE 5, and picks up a coating of adhesive and carries it upwardly past a doctor blade 123 on the framework 112 and presents the remaining layer of adhesive at a zone near the edge of the framework 32fand at a location slightly below'the horizontal portion of the fol-ding plate 91.

Unless deflected, the top flap 21 would ride above the adhesive wheel 114. A deector wheel 124 of a double conical shape is mounted -on the framework 112 and is disposed in a position so that the advancing, substantially horizontal cover flap 21 is deflected and rolled downwardly into rolling contact with `the rotating adhesive applicator wheel surface 116. A succession of discrete zones of adhesive are thereby deposited on the nether surface of the downwardly deflected .top ap 21.

As the carton continues to advance within the conlines of the fnamework, it is held in closed position tall except for the ladhesive top ap 21. As this ap carrying adhesive advances, it encounters a camming plate 131 on the side of the framework 32 (FIG. 1B). During the carton advance,`the top flap 21 is cammed inwardly and downwardly by the plate 131. In this zone, the framework 32 is provided with 1a cutout portion 13'2 (FIG. 2) so that the previously confined front panel 14 of the carton is exposed. The top panel is urged through the cutout portion tandk downwardly land inwardly into immediate contact with the -front panel so that the adhesive attaches the juxtaposed members.

'Prior to this time and at about the station at which the adhesive is being applied, the carton has ladvanced far enough to come lout of engagement with the plate 61. When the carton advances into position to be adhesively secured, the top panel is lowered slightly more by the longitudinal portion 99 of the folding bar 96 and into immediate contact with the inwardly bent front flap 19 and into immediate contact withv the leading llap 17 and the tnailing ap 1S. Thus, when the top ap is secured to the front panel adhesively, the carton is tightly closed and its contents are snugly coniined.

In the usual instance, it is preferred to provide a heat setting adhesive. For that reason, there is mounted on a straight continuation 133 of the camming plate 131 (FlGS. 1B and 2) a heating element 134 suitably supplied with Y electric current and comprising coils which radiate and conduct heat onto the immediately adjacent portions of the closed and adhesively secured carton. The plates 131 and 133 are mounted on hinges 136 (FIG. 2) so as to swing at the top transversely of the frame 32 in la slight amount under the tension of springs 137. The heated plate 133 is thus lirmly pressed against the carton top flap 21. As the carton advances through the heating station, the adhesive is firmly set. By the time the carton has left the heating station, it is permanently closed and can only be opened by breaking some of the folds or disrupting the adhesive seal.

Ordinarily, the carton blanks are supplied without any imprint thereon and for most commercial purposes it is desired that the lled, closed and sealed cartons carry some sort of name `or other indicia, as indicated in FIG- URE lB. Usually, it is preferred to have printed material appear onwboth sides of the carton.

Consequently, on opposite sides of the frame 32 adjacent the discharge end thereof, as illustrated in FIG- URES 1B, 9, l0 and l1 imprinting mechanisms are provided. Since the imprinting mechanisms are identical except for the disposition of the parts on opposite sides of the machine, a description yof one applies equally to the other. Projecting upwardly from the frame 32 in a convenient location is -a shaft 141 carrying a bell crank 142. An inking roller 143 is journalled on one arm of the bell crank and is in immediate inking contact with a printing roller 144 journalled on the other arm of the bell crank. A spring 146 urges the printing roller 144 through an opening 147 in the frame 32 into contact with the yadvancing panel on a carton. As the carton travels past .the printing rollers 144, it receives suitable printed indicia. The carton, having been imprinted, travels along the terminal portion of the carton support 36 and is discharged by its pusher 51 onto `a succeeding conveyor 151 to carry the filled, closed, adhesively secured and imprinted carton away for further handling.

As the pusher 51 rounds the shaft 46 and moves from the upper run 41 of the conveyor to the lower run 47 thereof, it 4travels from the discharge end of the frame 32 toward the loading end thereof. At a suitable location in its return movement in the lower run, the pusher 51 encounters an electric switch 156 mounted on the frame 32 and having a projecting oper-ating button 154. As the pusher traverses the switch 153 it momentarily depresses the button 154 and turns off the electric motor which drives the chain 48 and the conveyor 42. Thus, the mechanism, energized by the initial manual positioning of a carton to be closed, is lautomatically shut olf when the carton has been discharged from the machine. This operation is yautomatic and needs only a single carton to actuate it. In the usual instance, cartons are fed to the machine in rapid succession by the operator at the station 31 and enter the machine fast enough so that the initial energizing switch button 52 is repeatedly actuated before the switch 153 is operated, so that the conveyor 42 advances continuously. For the full capacity of the machine, each one of the pushers 51 as it rounds the shaft 44 immediately engages a carton waiting to be'processed and closed. The structure is capable of handling any number of cartons from a single one up to the maximum capacity of the machine.

What is claimed is:

l. A packaging machine comprising a frame, a carton support on said frame, a conveyor on said frame for moving a carton along said support, means for operating said conveyor, means actuated by a carton at an initial station on said support for turning said conveyor operating means on, :a plate on said frame at `a second station positioned closely to overlie a carton on said support, means forming a leading edge on said plate for abutting and camming a leading ap on said carton under said plate, means on said frame operating in time with said conveyor for tucking a trailing flap on said carton under said plate, means on said frame at a third station and extending over said support for camming a front ap on said carton over said plate, means on said frame at a fourth station and extending stationarily over said plate for camming the top of said carton over said plate and over said front ap as said carton moves along said support, means on said frame at a fifth station for applying adhesive to the nether side of a top flap extending substantially in the plane of and from the top of said carton, means on said frame at la sixth station in position to engage the upper side of said top ap for camming 8 said -top flap downwardly with said nether side against the front of said carton, and means actuated by said conveyor for turning said operating means off.

2. A packaging machine comprising a frame, a carton support on said frame, a conveyor on said frame, a lug on said conveyor for engaging the trailing wall of a carton and moving said carton along said support, means for operating said conveyor, means actuated by a carton at an initial station on said support for turning said operating means on, a plate on said frame at a second station extending parallel to said support and disposed closely to overlie a carton on said support, means including a leading edge on said plate for abutting and camming a leading ap on said carton under said plate, means on said frame advancing faster than said conveyor for tuoking a trailing iiap on said carton under said plate, means on said frame at a third station for camming a front flap on said carton over said plate, means on said frame at a fourth station for camming the top of said carton over said plate and into contact with said front flap, means on said frame for holding said top in cammedover position, means on said frame at a fifth station for applying adhesive to the nether side of a top ap extending substantially in the plane of and from the top of said carton, means on said frame `at a sixth station for camming said top ap downwardly with said nether side against the front of said carton, and means actuated by said lug for turning said operating means off.

3. A packaging machine comprising a frame, a horizontal carton support extending along said frame, a conveyor on said frame for moving a carton along said support, a horizontal plate on said frame positioned closely to overlie a moving carton on said support and having a leading edge engageable by a leading ap on said carton, means on said frame for tucking a trailing flap on said moving carton under said plate, -means on said frame for folding a front ap on said moving carton over said plate, means on said frame for folding the top of said moving carton over said plate and into contact with said folded front ap, and means on said frame for then folding a top flap on said folded top of said moving carton against the front face of said carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,270,264 Carruth Ian. 20, 1942 2,598,135 Schmied May 27, 1952 2,625,778 Wood Jan. 20, 1953 2,670,027 Gigler Feb. 23, 1954 2,677,220 Fischer et al. May 4, 1954 2,844,930 Nelson July 29, 1958 2,910,815 Bartlett et al. Nov. 3, 1959 

